This weekend is a busy one in the world of pop culture. You’ve got Free Comic Book Day as well as Star Wars Day on Saturday. What you may (or may not) know is that the seventh edition of ZapCon takes place this weekend at the Mesa Convention Center as well. What’s ZapCon? According to its website “It’s a weekend-long classic arcade and pinball party, with all of the games set to free play! May 4-5, 2019“. With that out of the way, lets take a look at some of the details of the convention.

When & Where: In case you completely ignored the beginning of this article, ZapCon takes place at the Mesa Convention Center this weekend (May 4-5).

Admission: Prices go as following to get into Zapcon (and can be purchased here or at the door)

  • Adult Weekend: $40
  • Adult Saturday: $30
  • Adult Sunday: $20
  • Kids (Age 12 and Under): $10
  • Kids Saturday: $15
  • Kids Sunday: $10

As of article posting, the convention was also looking for Volunteers (5 hours of your time in exchange for a weekend pass)

What To Do: There are several hundred pinball machines and arcade cabinets set to free for you to enjoy which will be a great mix of retro and modern machines including some of my favorite: Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Addams Family. Not enough for you? How about a Console Lounge featuring a variety of home consoles with seating and crt televisions. Also happening over the weekend will be:

  • Tournaments on various pinball and arcade cabinets
  • An Escape Room open all weekend
  • An Artemis Bridge Simulator
  • A Saturday night concert featuring The Minibosses, Fygar, and Dratini on the Rocks.

Click here for the full list of pinball and arcade games or click here for the schedule of events.

Parking: Parking is plentiful at the Mesa Convention Center and it is FREE. If the lot does fill up, there is another lot right behind the Mesa amphitheater which is also free and a very small walk from the convention center. If parking is not your thing, the Valley Metro Light Rail stops on Center St/Main St which is also really close.

For photos and summaries of previous ZapCons, you can click here or here.

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